SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
premise
noun
A statement or assumption on which an argument is based.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Basis of an argument
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA premise is used as a starting statement in reasoning. A hypothesis is usually proposed for investigation rather than simply accepted for an argument.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See premise in use
The conclusion fails if its central premise is false.
A student committee proposed moving its exhibition to a smaller room on the premise that less wall space would reduce preparation time.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license